Anti-Vibration Gloves – Do They Work?

The invention of anti-vibration gloves has been a significant advancement in personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers who use automatic equipment such as pneumatic tools, rivet guns, and jackhammers. With the increase in powered tools, the number of vibration-related injuries in the workplace has also risen.

Many brands offer different types of protection for the wearer, including vibration-dampening, impact resistance, and metacarpal protection, all of which help reduce the risk of injury.

Repeated exposure to vibration is a serious health and safety issue for workers operating heavy machinery without the proper PPE, such as anti-vibration gloves. Workers regularly exposed to vibrations from power tools are at risk of several injuries, including Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), and Vibration White Finger (VWF).

• Hand/Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS): HAVS is a serious and disabling condition, with almost 2 million people at risk. It can cause pain, tingling, and a loss of sensation or strength, making fine motor work difficult. The cold can trigger finger blanching attacks. While HAVS is preventable with the correct type of anti-vibration gloves, the damage is permanent once the nerves, blood vessels, and joints are affected.
• Vibration White Finger (VWF): VWF, a form of Raynaud’s syndrome, is triggered by over-exposure to vibrating machinery. Affecting 20% of the population worldwide, it causes the tips of fingers to turn white due to abnormal spasms in blood vessels, limiting blood supply to local tissues. VWF can lead to ulcers, scarring, or gangrene in severe cases. Wearing gloves to keep warm can help manage this condition.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): CTS occurs when the median nerve, which controls sensation and movement in the thumb and first three fingers, is compressed. This results in numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the hand. Wearing a wrist splint to relieve nerve pressure during sleep and using anti-vibration PPE can help reduce the risk.

To minimise risks, ensure that you and your employees keep hands warm to improve blood flow, take frequent breaks, limit the time each person uses vibrating equipment, and invest in tools with reduced vibration. Wearing protective gloves can help keep hands warm and absorb much of the vibratory energy.

Anti-vibration gloves protect the wearer by keeping hands warm, improving blood flow, and absorbing vibratory energy before it reaches the skin. This is crucial for maintaining healthy blood circulation and avoiding long-term health issues. However, these gloves should not be seen as a long-term solution for frequent use of vibrating machinery. Monitoring machinery use and providing alternative tasks can further protect employees.

The EN ISO 10819 standard specifies the requirements for anti-vibration gloves to ensure they effectively reduce the transmission of vibrations. This standard outlines the necessary testing methods to evaluate the gloves’ performance in minimising the impact of vibration on the hands and arms.

While anti-vibration gloves do not completely eliminate all hazards, they offer essential protection, including cut resistance in many models. Investing in good quality, warm, well-fitting gloves is crucial for building a comprehensive PPE kit. They significantly help in preventing vibration-related injuries and diseases.

So, do anti-vibration gloves work to help prevent vibration-related injuries and diseases? Absolutely.